Stories & Blogs
Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 25, 2026
A favorite song of Merle Haggard was “My Favorite Memory.” A song of the memory of good times and long-time love. What would be one of your favorite memories of places, family, friends, and events? We also learn from memories that may be painful. This Sunday Letter is about our short-term and long-term memories, which…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 18, 2026
The millions of prayers for Pope Leo and his surgery, along with the Bend school shooting and the too familiar gathering of parents and children asking for prayers, brought forward thoughts of Prayers and Praying for this Sunday Letter. Prayer as an Individual, Family, Community Ritual and Practice For many, prayers are about strengthening heart…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 11, 2026
A Sunday Letter reader suggested, I find a way to address death. I chose a story to present the experience and response to the death of a friend or family member, whatever the age or life stage. Leave your Comment following the story. By your sharing, we learn together. Talking To Dirt Charley and Mattie…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for October 4, 2026
Between the Wet & the Dry These are the long-awaited days of seasonal rains washing away the dust of a summer of 107’s, burning grasslands and brown without the seasonal green. What do we do, how do we act when our spirit becomes dry, not replenished by a mentor, events, or experiences. Where do we…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 27, 2026
The First of Everything I had given thought to writing about the “what was” of a youth baseball glove and garage golf clubs. However, Sunday readers enjoyed a recent Sunday Fiction, so I offer a second story for your enjoyment as we learn and share the challenges and joys of daily life. Ellie burst through…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 20, 2026
Noble Truths & Sunday Life Lessons Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Jewish practices share the common heritage of Noble Truths and Wisdom Sayings. I have been fortunate to read, listen and learn over a lifetime. I have gathered an informal backpack of truths, not Noble Truths, but representing what I have seen and believe to be…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 13, 2026
Something new, different this Sunday. I am sending forth a writing about a sister, a dog, and an unexpected, surprising part of life. Again new, different, a try out…let me know if this works or does not work for you. Henri, Not My Dog I stared at my sister’s coffin…it just can’t be. When I…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for September 6, 2026
Living Beyond Our Heroes The recent deaths of Dolly Parton (80) and Wendell Berry (92) have given me a reflective pause and also inspired me to write about Heroes this Sunday. Dolly gave of her talents, loving heart, and economy capacity to make life better for individuals, families, here in America and to international cultures…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 30, 2026
Beginnings and Continuings Beginnings: What have you begun in 2026 or have considered beginning? What interests your current focus and energy? There is a tendency, especially as we age, to lessen or embrace of the new or different. A new adventure, cause, music or craft provides an uplift of our eyes, energy and spirit. In…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 23, 2026
The Small & The Big Of Life It is not always the large and big in life that makes a difference. In golf, it is not the 300-yard drive but the 70-yard wedge to the pin that creates birdies and lower scores. And speaking of birds, we have Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Woodpeckers. The come…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for February 2, 2025
BEING A SENIOR IN 2025 AMERICA I recently completed a story of seniors having lunch at separate tables at Mary’s Grill. Tables were needed to serve waiting families, friends, and office workers. The seniors order lunch Specials and leave small, if any tips. Since Mary’s is a friendly place, for several seniors it is not…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for January 26, 2025
Friends and friendship join Joy, Kindness, and Peaceful Living on life’s wheel. As I talk with and meet people or on a social platform, I listen to the challenges of making new friends, going deeper with a current friendship, or losing friends through aging, health, or relocation. There is a touch of spirits unique to…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for January 19, 2025
I began, we began, seeing video of the Pacific Palisades hillside fire and the push of Santa Ana winds on January 7. Today, 12,000 homes have burned with thousands displaced and at-risk for dreams, hopes, and memories to be lost somewhere in the sudden need to flee. Some with a “Go Bag,” others only a…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for January 12, 2025
INSIGHT ON WRITING PRAYERS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY Prayers and Other Notes: There are two mentors I consider personal heroes. The first, my grandfather, who left his east Texas tractor each Friday afternoon then entering a small hut on the side of the barn. He would use two stiff fingers from repairing too many…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for January 5, 2025
Thoughts on Mentors and Mentoring Most of us, whatever age, gender, and background, have become who we are through family, education, and life experiences. In addition, many of us have received guidance and support from one or more mentors. And now, perhaps from our own experiences and elderhood, we can provide the “pay it forward”…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for December 29, 2024
Reflections – Calendars & Seasons of the Year Most of us look at our calendars often, whether iPad, laptop, watch, or one of the traditional paper calendars. Calendars add details to our comings and goings of dates, times, events, and people. My paper calendar helps my elder memory with notes of birthdays, phone numbers, anniversaries…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for December 22, 2024
REFLECTIONS – CHRISTMAS 2024 Most of us live days somewhere between the inspiring restoration of the Norte Dame Cathedral and the heritage story of the birth of a child, a humble manger in a faraway village, pilgrim parents, and travel weary shepherds. In the midst of the annual seasonal blur, we each have an opportunity…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for December 15, 2024
** The numbers and the reasons for the decline in church attendance are well documented. Although the percentage of Americans who have de-churched has grown, the desire of the American public to find and experience a church like community has also grown. These new assemblies and communities tend to be cause centered, with a focus…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for December 8, 2024
** In Paris, Norte Dame has been fully restored from a destructive fire five years ago. Artists and craft persons used historic and new materials throughout the restoration. The language changed from artist/craft persons to Companions, expressing the ownership felt by all committed to returning Norte Dame to France and the world with awe and…
Roy’s Sunday Letter for December 1, 2024
The arrival of Thanksgiving and the coming Christmas season brings the mix of memories, some warm and life-giving, others more difficult. A seasonal truth, for me, would be that both seasons are best experienced and enjoyed in the company of family and friends. Receptions, open houses and dinners are opportunities to tell and listen to…